( KTRS ) A spokesperson for Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office says, a follow-up meeting with legislative leaders on the state budget is slated for Tuesday afternoon in Chicago. The Governer met last week with House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton for the first time in Months. The leaders have not been able…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Candidates and party insiders say they’re hopeful the Missouri governor’s race will be positive. But tensions recently flared between two Republican candidates, and some political scientists say a four-way Republican primary makes negative campaigning likely. Truman State University political scientist Randy Hagerty says it’s likely to get nasty. Candidates say…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois House has endorsed a partial spending plan that frees up $1.9 billion for local governments, but also adds money for public safety in a compromise with Gov. Bruce Rauner. Language that releases already-collected tax money for cities and counties for road upkeep and emergency-dispatch services passed Wednesday and moves…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Two candidates are challenging U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk in the 2016 Republican primary. James Marter of Oswego is a businessman who says he is more conservative than Kirk. Elizabeth Pahlke of Arlington Heights ran unsuccessfully as an independent candidate in the 2013 special election for the 2nd congressional district once held…
( KTRS ) Gov. Bruce Rauner has repeatedly pledged to save taxpayers money by eliminating some of Illinois’ nearly 7,000 units of government. A task force the Republican governor named to put that idea in motion, is preparing its final recommendations.Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, the commission’s chairwoman, says its suggestions could make government more efficient…
ST. LOUIS (AP) – An audio recording has captured a heated phone call between two Republican gubernatorial candidates. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1OqBaSp ) reports that former Navy SEAL officer Eric Greitens is heard calling St. Louis businessman John Brunner a “weasel,” “coward,” “corrupt” and a liar on the Nov. 14 recording. Brunner spends much…
( KTRS ) Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley says he’s joined other Democrats in creating a task force to help ensure equal rights for transgender people. The Transgender Equality Task Force will analyze some of the challenges facing the transgender community, including violence, homelessness, housing discrimination and unemployment. Quigley says the group also will recommend legislation to address…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri judge has ruled against a challenge to the state Senate’s vote overriding Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of measure that could reduce the number of weeks residents can collect unemployment benefits. The Jefferson City News Tribune (http://bit.ly/1l3yP60 ) reports the judge ruled last week against the challenge from the…
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is criticizing some University of Missouri student protesters as “pampered” and the faculty who are backing them as “tenured radicals.” The Kansas City Star (http://bit.ly/1kxNiay ) reports that Kinder discussed the racial discord at the Columbia campus Saturday during a forum for Republican gubernatorial…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Five leading Illinois business groups are urging Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative leaders to skip the public budget negotiation they’ve scheduled for next week. In a letter released Thursday, the business leaders say a public meeting over the 18-week budget holdup would prevent “sincere and constructive” conversation necessary for successful negotiation.…